Diathermy knife



' Aug. 23,- 1927.

DIATHERMY KNIFE Filed 001,. 27. 1926 INVENTOR. :SurrEN MROFF ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED vSTATES SUTTEN H. GROFF, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

DIATHERMY KNIFE.

Application led October 27,1926, Serial No. 144,542.

My invention relat-es to 'surgical instruments for use in diathermy where electricity is employed to heat and thus destroy the tissue.

A purpose of my invention is the provision of a combinationN of an electrode and a blade by which the vdestruction off tissue and the lremoval thereof can be effected simultaneously,

It is also av purpose of my invention to provide a diathermy knife in which the blade is detachably secured to the electrode in order to permit the substitution of any form of blade to suit a particular operation,

each blade in'any instance having la relatively sharp edge .andw by 'virtue of its association with the electrode operating to concentrate the current along the cutting edge so that the tissue is severed without bleeding and with or without actual cutting, thus making an ordinary diathermy operation equivalent to endothermy. v

I will describe only one form of diathermy knife embodying my invention, and wil then point out the novel features thereof in claims.A v

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in sidefelevation one form of diathermy knife embody- 30 ing my invention;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view i ofthe blade holding lmeans of the knife shown in the preceding views;

Figure 4 is a viewsimilar to Figure 3, showing the blade holding means 1n side elevation; i

Figure 5 is a detail view of the knife blade;

` Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure '1..

My invention in its present embodimentcomprises an electrode consisting of an 4 5 elongated body 15 of suitable conducting material, preferably in the form of a metal tube, one end of which is open and interiorly threaded, as indicated at 16, to. provide a socket in which is adapted to be received the terminal ofa wire (not shown) and constituting a part of the conventional high frequency system for supplying vcurrent to the electrode. The opposite end of the body '15 is closed and terminates in a conical por- '.15 tion 17, the latter in turnbeing provided v with an extension 18 which is constructed to provide means for holding the blade B thereon. The extension is formed of conducting material and comprises an elongated head 19 slotted as' indicatori at 2O` and terminating in spaced relation .to the tapered portion 17, the intervening portion 18 having a flat side. 2 1 and an inclined shoulder 22. The blade 19, as clearly shown in Figure 5, is provided with a cutting edge 23,11 beveled end 24 and a slot having a wide portion 25 and a narrow portion 26, with intervenin shoulders 27. In the applied position o the blade to the head the slotted portion of the head 19 engages within the slot 20, the remainder of the head being received in theslot 25. The end 24 of the blade abuts the shoulder 22 and thus the blade is removably secured on the extension.

The blade holding means just described constitutes no part of my invention, but it does illustrate one form of'blade and one form of attaching means therefor and its association with'the electrode and as constituting ai part of my diathermy knife. It is to be understood that any form of blade can be used, so long as it is provided with a relatively sharp cutting edge, and any form of means for securing the blade to the el-ec. trode, either permanently or temporarily, and all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In practice, the knife is adapted to constitute one 'terminal of a high frequency electrical circuit, a conductor included in the circuit being connected within the socket 16 as has been described, and the other terminal ofthe circuit being applied directly to the body of the patient, as is the usual method. The electrode or body 15 is preferably covered with a suitable insulating jacket 28 in order that the surgeon may grip the electrode in the manipulation of the blade B and without fear of short circuitino` the instrument. In manipulating thcfq'oo knife the cutting edge of the blade is caused toA penetrate the vtissue to be removed, and immediately upon contact of the blade with such tissue current is conducted thereto ro effect sufficient heating to destroy the tissue. 1o.'. Consequently as the blade penetrates it functions to sever the tissue so that the latter can-be removed without bleeding. It is. important to note that the cutting edge 23 of Y the blade being in contact with the tissue 110 effects a concentration of the current alon such cutting edge. This effects the rapid stood that various changes and modications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim l. A diathermy knife comprising an elec#` trode, and a blade thereon having a rela'- tively sharp cutting edge, whereby current from the electrode will be concentrated along the cutting edge Land the burning of" tissue eiectcd as the blade penetrates to permit the removal of bleeding. f

2. A diathermy knife comprising an electrode, and a blade detaehably secured on the electrode and having a relatively sharp cutting edge.

3. A diathermy knife comprising an electrode including an elongated body of oonducting material having a socket therein the tissue without adapted for theireception of a flexible conductor, 'an insulating jacket for the body and a conducting extension on the body having a blade thereon, provided with a relaf tively sharp cutting edge.

SUTTEN H. GROFF. 

